Retiring Timberwolves center Brad Miller goes out in style

The best part of a dismal night at Target Center was Timberwolves center Brad Miller showing how much he cared about a game he has played for 30 years, the last 14 in the NBA.

Miller, whose retirement became official after a 131-102 loss to Denver on Thursday night, April 26, at Target Center, cried when he made his final exit with 5:09 left in the fourth quarter and in the locker room after the game when asked about Wolves coach Rick Adelman.

Miller, 36, played for Adelman five seasons in Sacramento and one in Houston.

"That's what he means to me," an emotional Miller said of the tears streaming down his face. "He's been like a college coach to me. I got to know his wife and family and his kids. He just wants to win."

Miller had four points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 17 minutes off the bench in Thursday's loss. When Adelman took him out for the last time, the crowd of 14,824 gave him a standing ovation and he got hugs from teammates. Miller couldn't hold back the tears when he was embraced by Anthony Tolliver, the last player to greet him.

"I was trying to be a tough guy," Miller said. "I had been pretty cool all day, but coming out that last time hit me pretty hard."

Miller appeared in eight playoffs with Chicago, Indiana and Sacramento. He also was a two-time all-star despite not being drafted when he came out of Purdue in 1998. Miller is one of only five undrafted players to appear in the NBA All-Star Game, including Connie Hawkins, Moses Malone, John Starks and Ben Wallace.

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Pekovic milestones

Nikola Pekovic, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds Thursday, finished the season with the highest scoring average for a Wolves center in franchise history.

Pekovic's 13.9 points per game tops the 12.3 mark set by Mark Blount in 2006-07.

Pekovic also set a club record for highest shooting percentage. He finished the season shooting 56.4 percent, third in the NBA. Pekovic topped the 52.6 shooting percentage posted by Kevin Garnett in 2005-06